To define, pelvic floor therapy is a treatment methodology that utilizes the principles of physical therapy to give structured, potent, and safe pelvic floor muscle reconditioning. The objective of pelvic floor therapy NYC is to improve the functioning and strength of the pelvic floor muscles, as well as to alleviate any pain, weakness, or muscle dysfunctions.
During a pelvic floor therapy NYC treatment, a trained and skilled physical therapist examines the pelvic floor muscles through the rectum or vagina and makes manual manipulations to improve the muscle group’s function and strength. The pelvic floor therapy NYC therapist may do 2 things depending on his or her assessment: (1) stretch the muscles if they are short and contracted or, (2) apply resistance for weak and dysfunctional muscles to improve their strength.
When is Pelvic Floor Therapy NYC Advisable?
Pelvic floor therapy NYC targets pelvic floor muscles, ligaments, and its connective tissues – all of which work with each other to support pelvic organs, assist bladder and bowel control, and contribute to sexual arousal and orgasms. The pelvic muscle tissues are connected to the sacrum, tailbone, and pelvis. These tissues coordinate with each other to support the reproductive and urinary tract which includes the uterus, prostate, urethra, bladder, vagina, and rectum. The pelvic muscles provide stability and promote proper functioning of the organs like voiding functions, posture, and breathing.
When pelvic floor muscles’ ability to work is dysfunctional, pain and other symptoms interfere with the patient’s normal function and activities of daily living. Here is when pelvic floor therapy NYC and orthopedic rehab helps:
- Bladder incontinence, frequency, and urgency
- Pain in urination
- Abnormal bladder and bowel movements
- Fecal incontinence
- Constipation
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Pain in the genital area
- Endometriosis
- Menopausal symptoms
- Pain in the pelvic area radiating to the hips, abdomen, thigh, or lower back
- Unexplained pains
- Pregnancy and post-partum wellness
- Interstitial cystitis
- Vaginismus
- Endometriosis
- Testicular pain
Who Should Consult a Pelvic Floor Therapy NYC Clinic?
Treatments offered by pelvic floor therapy NYC clinics are often considered a first-line remedy for a lot of disorders of the pelvic area. Pelvic floor muscle exercises due to weakness can be performed by both men and women to enhance bladder and bowel control and strengthen the pelvic floor. A family physician can particularly refer a patient to a pelvic floor therapy NYC clinic if he or she suspects a pelvic floor dysfunction with a neuromuscular origin or cause. The pelvic dysfunction may be caused by aging, illness, surgery, childbirth, and other conditions. Pelvic dysfunction can coexist with genitourinary problems like urinary incontinence, bladder-emptying problems, fecal incontinence, and constipation.
Some physician refers their patients to pelvic floor therapy NYC clinics for therapy when they have symptoms like incontinence, painful intercourse, chronic pelvic pain, and even just difficulty in bowel movements and urination. For women, they may be prompted to see a pelvic floor therapy NYC clinic for treatment of vaginismus or endometriosis. For men, they may see a pelvic floor therapy NYC clinic due to painful ejaculation and premature ejaculation.
Pelvic floor exercises prescribed by a physician in a pelvic floor therapy NYC clinic may prove beneficial for women with low-risk chances of developing vaginal prolapse, bowel and bladder conditions, and those still recovering from childbirth.
Treatment from a pelvic floor therapy NYC clinic can also help male patients who have undergone surgery on the prostate to quickly recover, reduce rectal prolapse risks, and improve bowel and bladder control.
How Do Pelvic Floor Therapy NYC Treatments Work?
Treatment in a pelvic floor therapy NYC clinic starts with history taking including the patient’s past medical and surgical history, medications taken, and sexual and OB-Gynecologic history. Then, a comprehensive orthopedic examination is done, paying particular attention to the lumbar spine and hips, posture, and gait of the patient. The pelvic floor therapy NYC assessment usually includes both internal and external evaluation of the muscles. Often, the patients are asked to stand, walk and sit to allow the therapist to inspect and detect any posture or joint issues that exist thereby affecting the pelvic floor muscles.
The whole of the evaluation then aids the determination of the pelvic floor therapy NYC treatment appropriate for the patient and guides the formulation of an appropriate and individualized plan of care. The type of therapy recommended by pelvic floor therapy NYC clinics depends highly on the symptoms experienced by the patient. For example, it may be necessary to perform relaxing and lengthening muscle exercises for patients who show related symptoms while in other cases the opposite – strengthening muscle exercises – may be advised.
A pelvic floor therapy NYC treatment plan may be inclusive of the following but not limited to:
- Legs, trunk, or pelvic muscles strengthening or stretching exercises
- Shortened pelvic muscles relaxation exercises
- Self-management and symptom prevention patient education
- Coordination exercises
- Biofeedback for both relaxation and strengthening of the pelvic muscles
- Other modalities like ice application, heat application, or electrical stimulation.
Through a highly individualized, tailor-fitted treatment plan from the pelvic floor therapy NYC clinic, the physical therapist manipulates the dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles to recover their strength and function. Shortened and contracted pelvic muscles should be stretched to relax and relieve the pain of the pelvic floor associated with the tightening and cramping of the muscles. Appropriate pelvic floor therapy NYC techniques of treatment should be used to strengthen muscles, alleviate pain and contractions due to an overactive bladder, and keep the pelvic organs in their proper position. The pelvic floor therapy NYC treatment should ultimately help ease pain and associated symptoms if not restore normal functioning.
Which Pelvic Floor Therapy NYC Techniques are Used in Treatment?
Often, pelvic floor therapy NYC techniques are manual (hands-on) and include treatments that can be internal or external. Since internal therapies do not appeal to a lot of patients, pelvic floor therapy NYC staff are highly sensitive to their patient’s individual needs and do not begin with this option and wait on the patient’s readiness.
External pelvic floor therapy NYC techniques can include nerve release, trigger point therapy, skin rolling, joint mobilization, and myofascial release or deep tissue massage.
Internal techniques may include utilizing specialized devices or instruments or sticking a finger through the rectum or vagina to perform trigger point therapy. Pressure is applied on a specific point or injecting anesthesia to the trigger points. It is a given that anesthesia injections are done by a doctor or nurse practitioner. Besides those treatments mentioned above, other treatments can also be explored to address pain including muscle relaxing medications and Botox injections.
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